The Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) training programme is designed to meet the needs of the professional who wishes to pursue the world’s premier certification in Internal Auditing. 

The CIA training programme is based on the detailed requirements of the CIA syllabus, and leads to the award of the CIA designation by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) of the United States of America. Established in 1941, the IIA has more than 175,000 members around the globe.

Course Objectives

The CIA designation is the IIA’s premier certification. The CIA title reflects competence in the principles and practices of internal auditing and serves as the only internationally recognised designation for internal auditors. Achieving the CIA qualification demonstrates your commitment to the auditing profession and, whether you choose to stay within the field of internal auditing or to broaden your skills and move onwards and upwards within your organization, the fundamentals of business, risk and control covered by the CIA will prove invaluable.

The CIA qualification is awarded by the IIA after successful completion of the CIA exams and 2 years approved practicing experience.

CIA candidates are required to complete 24 months of internal auditing experience or its equivalent (which means experience in audit/assessment disciplines, such as external auditing, quality assurance, etc.). Related business professions (such as accounting, law and finance) can be substituted for one year of experience, but candidates will not be certified until the experience requirement has been fully met.

Individuals who pursue the CIA title will earn one of the most prestigious professional qualifications in the world and will benefit from:

• Top quality training in all aspects of internal audit
• Excellent career prospects as one of the best qualified individuals in the auditing profession
• Proof of their commitment and potential to excel at the top of their profession

Entry Requirements

CIA candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited college-level institution.

In addition, certain international professional designations such as ACCA, ACA and CAT are accepted as equivalent and, additionally, may grant their holders exemption from Part IV of the examinations.

Applicants who do not possess a Bachelor’s degree and who are unsure whether their educational achievements or professional designation qualify as equivalents, should submit related educational/ professional information with their application and include a covering letter requesting review by the Board of Regents of the IIA.

Course Duration

The certification program's eligibility requires candidates to complete the program certification process within four years of application approval.  If a candidate has not completed the certification process within four years, all fees and exam parts will be forfeited.

Course Structure

The CIA examination structure is fairly simple. It is offered in four parts of 100 multiple-choice questions per part and it is assessed through Computer Based Examinations (CBE).

Examination Rules

• CIA examinations are offered all year round, subject to availability of the local examination center.
• The exact number of questions required to pass the exam may be slightly different from one test to another and so the number of correct responses are converted to a reporting scale that ranges from 250 to 750 points. A scaled score of 600 points or higher is required to pass the CIA exam.
• If you fail one of the CIA exams you must wait at least 90 days before you will be able to retake that exam.
• There is no limit to the number of times a candidate can retake a failed exam.

Important Dates

The registration procedure for the examinations is done online through the IIA website.  You are allowed 180 days to sit the particular exam registered for, at the approved CIA testing center.  It is recommended that you schedule your exam date 45 days ahead to increase the likelihood of receiving the desired date.

Important Notice

As the result of findings from a Job Analysis Study (JAS) for the Certified Internal AuditorR (CIAR) program conducted in 2011, the Professional Certifications Board (PCB) and the Board of Directors of The IIA have approved two key changes to the CIA program. The JAS determined that the body of knowledge related to the profession of internal auditing has changed since the last exam content update in 2004, and therefore needs to be adjusted to reflect those changes. The first change will affect the exam structure, reducing the program from four exam parts to three. With the reduction in parts, The IIA will be eliminating the recognition credit provision previously applicable to Part 4. The final change consists of a realignment of the exam content outline and question count for each part. The new content and three-part exam structure are scheduled to be implemented by mid-2013.    (Certification Candidate Handbook, The Institute of Internal Auditors Global)

Download the full CIA leaflet